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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town



        Morton Stanley Park


        Morton Stanley Park is a public park located to the north of Callow Hill. It was opened in
        1986 and is run by Redditch Borough Council, however it is not owned by them. The land
        today that makes up Morton Stanley Park, was once Upper Grinsty Farm, which was
        bought in 1913 by William Morton Stanley. Stanley was a rich factory owner and retired
        to Upper Grinsty and lived the rest of his life there. In 1921, he edited his will, which
        resulted in Upper Grinsty Farm being given to the people of Redditch and Webheath.
        Stanley died three years later at the age of 84, little did he know his land would not be
        open to the public until over 60 years later.

        Upper Grinsty Farmhouse, became derelict and run-down until it was finely demolished
        in 1959. 5 years later when Redditch became a New Town, the Development Corporation
        wanted to build a housing estate on his land, however these plans were halted by the
        Headless Cross Residents Association. In 1978, the far-eastern fringes of Stanley's land
        was in fact built on, but Reddicth Council gave council owned land to the west of the
        estate to compensate. Windmill Drive was built and after 60 years of waiting the park
        opened to the public with two car parks, one in the east in Headless Cross and one in the






























































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